Just about a year ago at the 2011 Chicago Auto Show, Dodge Brand CEO Ralph Gilles (now CEO of SRT) rolled out a new version of the Dodge Grand Caravan, the R/T. This van, he said, was the "man van." We were hooked immediately.
The 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan R/T is lowered by 12mm and gets new aerodynamics, heavier steering, an Eco button and optional 17-inch tires. On the inside things are dark: Black is the only color. Gilles described the driving experience as being like a GTI.
And after testing one, we can only assume he meant that it's like a GTI in the sense that both have non-defeat stability control. What else did we learn from the 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan R/T "Man Van" on our track? Click through to find out.
There has been an intriguing lack of information accompanying Chrysler concept vehicles since the tie-up with Fiat. And so it is with the Chrysler 700C, the minivan concept that just showed up at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show with no further explanation. There's no record of it on Chrysler's media website.
But a placard in its license plate holder does identify its origin in the Chrysler Design Studio, and sure enough, as soon as we began taking photos of it, a researcher from the design team strode up and began peppering us with questions. We were incredibly wishy-washy, so if the next Chrysler Town and Country (which outsells the Dodge Grand Caravan, by the way, and is likely to come back solo for the next generation) ends up looking like a strange pastiche of design elements, well, maybe we had something infinitesimal to do with it.
For reference, we've included a couple shots of the current T&C.
Everything comes in a box in Tokyo. Press kits, our lunch, the Starbucks latte and scone we ordered at the train station this morning, and certainly, personal transportation.
There are good reasons for this: One, boxes are inherently tidy, orderly, law-abiding and stylish. Two, twelve million people live in this city, and boxes are more space-efficient to sardine into garages. Three, the government-subsidized kei car class places stringest limitations on a car's physical footprint, so a box-shaped vehicle ensures maximum interior space.
Any manufacturer that's serious about doing business in Japan has at least one box-shaped vehicle on its stand. This year the Honda N Box and Daihatsu FC ShoCase concept get our best-in-show awards in the box category.
Without doing a lot of in-depth market research, I'm just going to go out on a limb and say that there's probably not much consumer interest in a nine passenger, two (sliding) door, "lounge-style cocoon" rolling on low-rolling-resistance 22s with a leather floor. The all-wheel drive hybrid thing on an MPV, however, isnt' too big of a stretch.
There's no way this will ever come close to production, but we dig it and will bring you more from the show floor in Frankfurt.
Sorry, fans of the Turkish entry, Karsan, in the search for New York's next Taxi, the winner has been picked and the billion-dollar contract goes to......Nissan! The NV200 was chosen over Karsan and the Ford Transit by the New York Taxi and Limousine Commission as the exclusive cab of NYC starting in late 2013. The deal also includes a gift of (up to) six Nissan Leafs to taxi operators for testing and evaluation.
Just under two weeks since its last recall for defective windshield wipers on the 2011 Honda Odyssey, Honda is again using the R-word as another 2,800 vans (the last recall was 33,341) for front door window glass.
"There is a potential failure with the driver and front passenger door power windows in which the window may come off the track, causing the window to become inoperative and preventing it from being rolled up or down into the door. The window may shatter into the passenger cabin, causing a risk of injury to the vehicle occupants." said NHTSA in a summary of the problem.
Honda has received 97 warranty claims regarding the defect and say there have been zero injuries. Owners are advised to contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009, notifications will be sent out and fixes will begin on April 15.
The Volkswagen Bulli Minibus was one of the favorites of the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. With its fairly simple, classic VW van styling and sleek interior, the Bulli is one of those few concepts that's only a few tweaks away from production.
To see more on the little bus, watch our video after the jump.
What's the first thing we thought of when the Volkswagen Bulli rolled out at tonight's reveal? We'll give you a hint; it wasn't the Microbus.
That's what Volkswagen wanted us to think, of course, but we weren't feeling it. Sitting there on the stage, the Bulli looked more like a slightly more stylish Scion xB.
Volkswagen would counter that argument with the fact that the Bulli concept is an all-electric vehicle with zero emissions, so clearly it is a one-of-a-kind machine. It has a theoretical range of around 186 miles says Volkswagen, but its top speed is only 87 mph and the 0-60 time is a rather leisurely 11.5 seconds. Don't worry, though; the Bulli was also built to house any number of Volkswagen's small-displacement four-cylinder gas engines, too. With one of those providing the power, the Bulli might be a little more than just a wannabe xB.
The Volkswagen Transporter 1 (T1), which we called the microbus and Germans called it the Bulli, debuted in 1950 and surfers and stoners and campers have loved it ever since.
During VW's trip down retro lane in 2001, VW released a new concept microbus. The reaction was strong, but around 2005, the plan fell through and VW couldn't rationalize a business plan for a small lifestyle van. But 2010 was a different year. VW made something like $9.4 billion in profit and have been screaming about design, design, design all year. They even bought a majority stake in Italdesign.
But this isn't a product of Italdesign (we'll have some more on that project tomorrow), this is a product of Volkswagen's new "design DNA" headed by Walter de Silva (Head of VW Group Design) and Klaus Bischoff (Head of Design of the VW brand). Design DNA is “based on the styling principles of the bestselling Beetle, Golf I and T1.” Fair enough, and fitting.
The specs they talk about on the new microbus seem fairly irrelevant at this point as this isn't a prototype and the figures are still fictional. Still, here they are: The Bulli is an FWD electric van (though a 1.0 or 1.4-liter motor will be available-- if they make it) with an 85 kW motor making 199 pound-feet of torque. There's a lithium ion battery with max storage of 40kWh giving a range of 186.4 miles and boasting a charge time if only one hour. The Bulli is 156 inches long, 68.4 inches wide and 66 inches tall with a 54 inch track.
There's a split-folding front bench (aweeeesome) which folds into the folding second (and rear-facing third) to make a flat sleeping surface. "California" was mentioned frequently as an inspiration. The iPad controls the infotainment system and, frankly, Apple products in VW cars seems like a no-brainer.
Is it just me, or is Ralph Gilles, Dodge Brand CEO and VP of Chrysler design, the only executive in the car business having fun? You hear this guy talk and you feel that he gets it. Not just that he gets cars and the passion they evoke, but he gets -- and likes -- Dodge. Some guys fall into a job and they sell the things they get paid for. Gilles is either the best actor in the world or he really does love his job.
Take for instance, the 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan R/T "man van." We'd been freshly bribed with Dodge coffee and Gilles is doing an early-morning walkaround of the Dodge products on the show floor. The two he spends the most time on: the 2011 Grand Caravan R/T and the Dodge Durango R/T (more on that later.) He says they've both been "dipped in paint," including the crosshair grille, because "some of our customers don't like chrome." And he says they both are a ton of fun to drive.
The 2011 DGC is already the most powerful minivan available with 283 horses, but this one has been lowered 12mm, features revised aerodynamics, a driver-selectable fuel economy/fun button (most certainly not labeled "fuel economy/fun) and 17s with low-rolling-resistance tires.
The interior has also been revised. And by that we mean refinished in black. All black. Gilles says this is to scare away the average mom who hops in thinking this is a normal minivan. And this is when Gilles gets fun. "It's like a GTI" he says while pretending to steer. He does this when he talks about driving the van, pretends to steer or use the pedals; car guys all do this. Ralph does this. He's talking about loading up the suspension on on-ramps and playing with the van and he's smiling -- this is a guy who's raced Vipers and he's digging a minivan. Again, we're back to thinking he's the best actor in the world, but we want to give the man van a shot first.
Aimed at buyers who would have a sport sedan if not for lifestyle needs, the R/T Caravan seems like a solid deal at $30,595. So, do you want one? Would you settle for it if you needed a van?
Sergio Marchionne, Chrysler/Fiat CEO, rolls around the Detroit Auto Show with a posse. Seriously. He's got a body guard (one of whom I have a picture of as he stepped into my camera as I was shooting) an assistant and some other flunkies as well as a swarm of photographers / videographers / sonographers (ok, not really) following him around in case he happens to let fly with some juicy news.
And let fly he has. Shocking....
There are three big items credited to Sergio from this year's Detroit Auto show. Let's start with the truckiest: There is going to be a multipurpose Jeep vehicle in the near future "with something that they call a truck bed" reports pickuptrucks.com. He went further, discussing the Gladiator Concept, "There's a better than 50 percent chance that you'll get one. Regardless of what Ram says." Ram, of course, is Chrysler Co's Truck line so any other brand having a pickup could be seen as overlap.
But wait, there's more! After the jump there's more Marchionne talking about Grand Wagoneers and the death of a minivan.....
In a double-whammy reveal from GM Chairman and CEO Dan Akerson, the General will be inserting Volt technology into a minivan within the "next few years," according to Automotive News.
Wait a minute...Thought GM bailed on the minivan segment? Well, like a fighter watching his own tape to find the holes, GM checked its product portfolio, realized that there's money to be made in minivans and is, apparently, getting back in.
But to enter a market as loyal and deep as this one is (let's face it, minivans today are good and even the worst one is a well-thought-out, functional appliance) GM's got to bring out the big guns. In this case, the big gun looks to be the extended-range EV/hybrid powertrain from the Volt.
And when thinking about it, an EV is a near-perfect solution for minivan use: School, soccer practice, church, neighbor's kid's sleepover; how many of those are more than 35 miles away roundtrip? Not many in the suburbs I grew up in. And if they are, well, that's what the gas motor is for.
Not only is the EV solution a good one for a van (assuming of course it doesn't kill cargo space or seat-folding functionality), but the Volt's powertrain is expensive and spreading the cost to multiple vehicles is a no-brainer and we fully expect more than just a minivan to have a Volt soul in the "next few years."
Akerson followed up by mentioning a plug-in Cadillac SRX. We'll have more on that.....someday.
On Dec 15, 2010, Chrysler received Trademark Office approval for the names Cuda and Statesmen.
To Chrysler fans across the world Cuda (Serial Number 85198502 ) rang an instant bell. The Plymouth Barracuda is one of the most sought-after muscle cars around. Trouble is, it's also a Plymouth. Chances are good that Chrysler Corp has no plans for this name other than to retain the rights. Dodge Cuda? Nah...doesn't sound right.
More interesting, however is the registration of "Tradesman." ( Serial Number 85198506 )This long-forgotten Dodge Van could very well see a resurgence in 2012 based on the Fiat Ducato Goods Transport Van. After the break-up with Mercedes, Dodge had to give back the Sprinter and a chunk of commercial business they probably enjoyed. Well, Fiat to the rescue. Fiat has a line of commercial vans available in Europe that they would love to sell here to a market soon to be chock-full-o vans as Nissan is bringing one soon, too.
Mercedes-Benz already "leaked" its own spy photos of the redesigned 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK convertible, but this leak of a French promotional video that features an uncamouflaged SLK is likely a bit more unintentional than that.
As you'll see, changes to the exterior styling are (again) evolutionary for the third generation of the Mercedes SLK. Every model will have a seven-speed automatic transmission, and engines will of course be direct-injected (it should be interesting to see what becomes of the AMG version... twin-turbo V8 or some kind of forced-induction V6 or...).
What this video really speaks to, though, is just how drastically different French tastes are from ours. As our somewhat impulsive protagonist takes us through all the neat-o features on the new convertible (internet in the car, AirCap, collision avoidance), an ominiscent narrator alternates between reading his thoughts and goading him forth -- in an over-the-top sultry intonation. Also, who told the film crew it was OK to drive a convertible top-down on a dusty fire road?
At the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show, Chrysler showed off their new minivan, the Chrysler Town and Country. This will be the first vehicle to wear the new logo, the Chrysler Wings, and is designed to take back the minivan segment which they were none to shy about admitting they created.
"We are not about to sacrifice the segment we invented!" an impassioned, and purposeful, Olivier Francois, said from the pulpit. Based on user reviews and critiques from the media (the media was called out specifically), Chrysler went over every nut, bolt, rivet, seam and stitch to make the world's finest minivan. The new TnC will have a new second-row seat-storage system that can be operated by two fingers, a higher quality leather interior, a new gated shifter, rear cross-path detection and blind spot monitoring as part of a standard safety package.
Chrysler is hoping that "LA style with Detroit purpose" will win back customers who've moved on to import vans.
#LAAS You'll recall that yesterday's photos from the 2011 Nissan Quest unveiling each included 3 dozen of our journalist friends in, on or around the new minivan. Well, that changes today. Today we got into the brown show van, which happens to be a high-line LE model ($42,150 with destination; full price list after the jump).
We found adequate room for all 5-foot-10 of us in the second-row captains's chairs, but our gut feeling is that this Quest isn't as roomy as the 2011 Odyssey we drove recently. Indeed, the Nissan's passenger volume is 167.1 cubic feet compared to the 172.6-cubic-foot volume in the Odyssey. Then again, we probably wouldn't be riding in the backseat of the Quest if we bought one.
#LAAS There's nothing like trying to photograph a minivan at an auto show. Everybody, everybody, has to open all the doors, sit in all the seats, and compulsively fold and unfold the third row. We waited. We lingered. We talked with all our auto journalist friends. And still the doors of the redesigned 2011 Nissan Quest were open and its seats were occupied. We will return to the van later and try to come up with some more interior photos for you.
Until then, let's talk pricing. The all-new, built-in-Japan 2011 Quest goes on sale in March 2011 with a base price of $27,750, or $28,550 with destination, for the entry-level Quest S model. Conveniently, that's a hair below the 2011 Honda Odyssey LX ($27,800, or $28,580 with destination). Nissan didn't bother trying to go after the Sienna -- $25,270 with destination for the base four-cylinder van, $26,510 for the base V6.
The New York City taxi is an iconic thing. Who here doesn't picture a massive fleet of Crown Vics before they think Chrysler Building or Central park?
But the Crown Vic isn't perfect. It's lousy for disabled passengers, carrying luggage, being a van, getting decent fuel economy and being on sale for much longer. And so the City of NY accepted proposals for the TAXI OF TOMORROW-- purpose-built cabs which will shuttle New Yorkers into the future. Or something. "Whichever of these designs that the City selects, if any, will be the next New York City taxicab (subject to constant improvements and enhancements) for the next ten years."
The three finalists are: Nissan, Karsan and Ford. Have an opinion? Just want to skew the results so people a few thousand miles from you have to ride in Karsans? Weigh in at the Taxi of Tomorrow Web Portal!
#SEMA Yes, that's what he called it, because this is clearly more than your average swagger wagon. This super stretch Sienna is the ultimate in suburban pimpitude, or at least that's what Toyota thinks. We'll let Mr. Swagger explain.
